Bengal Bags E-Governance Award For ‘Sabuj Sathi’

Kolkata:Another feather has been added to Mamata Banerjee’s hat. Bengal’s Sabuj Sathi scheme and e-excise project have received the national award in e-governance. These projects were adjudged the best among 950 projects from 28 States. Union Department of Personnel Training wrote to the Bengal Government about these awards.

In 2013-14, Bengal had won the national award in e-governance for e-taxation. The State had also been honoured for the Kanyashree scheme. Now, the scheme of free cycle distribution has received national acknowledgement. 70 lakh cycles have been distributed so far, all through e-governance. The whole process, starting from procurement to the distribution of cycles, is done online. Sabuj Sathi scheme has brought about a social revolution in the State.

On the other hand, the state government started the e-excise project for regulating the sale of alcohol. Procurement and sale of alcohol is completely online. Bar coding system has been introduced. How much alcohol has been sold, what is the stock left with the retailer, all details are stored online.

Revenue collection from excise has also increased as a result (from Rs 3,000 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 5,226 crore in 2016-17. The figure will reach Rs 8,700 crore in 2017-18).

Representatives from States like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura and Assam have come to Bengal to study the e-excise project, so that it can be implemented in their States also.

After assuming power, Mamata Banerjee had laid a lot of stress on e-governance. E-tendering system was launched in 2012; the finance ministry follows the Integrated Financial Management System. Recently, files have been done away with and e-office system was launched by the government.